FAQ

Forensic psychiatry and psychology

FAQ Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology not only answers many questions about forensic psychiatry and psychology from a medical and psychological perspective, but also provides you with the basic legal and criminological knowledge you need to prepare expert reports, answer questions about culpability or fitness to drive, among other things. The work goes beyond questions of assessment and presents the entire treatment in a correctional facility from admission to release; all forms of outpatient therapy such as prevention centres and forensic aftercare outpatient clinics are also addressed.

Among other things, this book provides criminological basics, special features of juvenile criminal law, legal-psychological information regarding the credibility of witnesses, knowledge about the use of prognostic instruments, facts about confidentiality, and much more.

Infant death and infanticide

Neglect, psychological, sexualised and physical violence are all forms of child abuse. If a child is killed, it is often said to be the culmination of the violence or the result of a mental disorder on the part of the perpetrator. Child homicides are being reported more and more frequently, especially in the media. This is accompanied by concern, but also the question of causes and preventative protective measures. In Germany, it is estimated that 1 - 2 % of homicides are child homicides. However, due to the complexity of the problems underlying the phenomenon, a high number of unreported cases can be assumed, as infanticides can also be concealed behind sudden infant death syndrome and Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) can end in accidental or even intentional infanticide. The new edition deals with infanticide in a historical context, in art and literature, in the context of criminal law and in relation to forensic psychiatric assessment. In addition, the topics of infanticide, Munchausen syndrome by proxy and forensic aspects of child abuse and sudden infant death syndrome are examined in more detail. A comparison is also made between sudden infant death syndrome (SID), infanticide and MSBP. The second edition is supplemented by the topics of assisted suicide and familicide.

Psychiatric sample reports

The preparation of expert reports is an integral part of training as a psychiatrist and characterises the everyday life of many psychiatrists and psychologists. This practical handbook provides all the relevant knowledge for this. The 2nd edition of this expanded and revised work illustrates the process and content of an assessment as well as the structure of a psychiatric report. 20 sample reports from the fields of social law, civil law and criminal law, among others, illustrate realistic cases. The book also contains numerous tips for practical implementation as well as sample letters and offers both beginners and advanced experts indispensable support.

Practical handbook of forensic psychiatry

Forensic psychiatry goes far beyond the expert assessment and treatment of mentally ill offenders. The forensic expert opinion also requires knowledge of social, family and civil law issues and, last but not least, ethical or historical categorisations.
The basic knowledge on preparing, writing and presenting expert reports is followed by practical contributions from law and medicine on assessment, treatment and prognosis. This also includes the diagnostic standards as well as the intervention and treatment concepts of forensic psychiatry.

The approach of considering criminal responsibility in special offences on the one hand and the forensic relevance of special disorders on the other is unique. The unique integrated presentation of forensic psychiatry for adults as well as children and adolescents, forensic medicine and forensic psychology opens up a view of the special features of neighbouring disciplines.

The new edition of this comprehensive standard work has been supplemented by numerous new topics such as forensic psychiatry in international comparison, the basics of traffic medicine, forensic medical and forensic psychological discussions, testamentary capacity, neurobiological aspects and much more.

The basic concept of providing both academically interested and practice-orientated readers with a balanced, well-founded and, despite its size, manageable reference work has been perfected in this new edition.

Interdisciplinary forensic psychiatry

Forensic psychiatry, both as a clinical discipline and as a science, is at the intersection of numerous disciplines. In public perception, emotions and even a "fascination with evil" play a central role - a perspective that is often held by experts in the field. For a comprehensive understanding, however, knowledge of sociology, criminology and philosophy as well as their categorisation in the respective historical context is required in addition to sound psychological and psychiatric knowledge. The assessment and treatment of offenders with sometimes serious psychiatrically relevant illnesses requires a clever and sensitive approach to the subject - this book helps to make this possible.

Ethics in forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy

Forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy encompasses the assessment and treatment of mentally ill offenders and is one of the most difficult terrains between medicine and law. Doctors and psychologists are called upon as expert witnesses in criminal proceedings to answer questions about culpability, credibility or criminal prognosis. If an offender is recognised as having reduced or suspended culpability, the court can order a disciplinary measure in addition to or instead of a prison sentence. The purpose of the disciplinary measure is to improve and secure the behaviour of mentally ill offenders. Expert opinions that have a significant influence on the judgement, deprivation of liberty and coercion in detention and preventive detention or psychiatric care in prisons - these are fields of action in which ethical questions arise. This new standard work brings together the broad spectrum of topics for the first time and provides an insight into the relevant ethical principles and questions of forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy. It not only helps with the categorisation and evaluation of difficult ethical constellations, it also offers concrete solutions for decision-making situations in the broad spectrum of forensic psychiatric fields of action.

Psychiatric sample reports

The preparation of expert reports is an obligatory part of training as a psychiatric specialist and continues to characterise the everyday life of many psychiatrists and psychologists. This requires a practical handbook that can quickly and easily impart the relevant knowledge to both beginners and advanced practitioners.
On the one hand, this work offers a wealth of information and tips on the subject of psychiatric assessment, such as the procedure and content of an assessment and the structure of the resulting psychiatric report. On the other hand, the 19 sample reports from the areas of social law, civil law and criminal law, among others, correspond to realistic cases, so that this practical handbook provides practical tips for both beginners and advanced users. Numerous boxes, marginalia and illustrations facilitate handling.

Responsibility and attribution in the mirror of criminal law and psychiatry

The "Mollath case" has brought forensic psychiatry to the attention of the public and has made it permanently clear what legal, medical and ethical problems and challenges need to be overcome in this area. Appropriate solutions that are in line with the principles of the rule of law can only be developed through interdisciplinary co-operation between lawyers and psychiatrists. This volume brings together contributions from renowned experts from both fields. It provides the reader with an excellent overview of both fundamental issues and current developments in the way the criminal justice system deals with mentally disturbed people.

Long-Term Imprisonment and Human Rights

Prisons and imprisonment have become a commonplace topic in popular culture as the setting and rationale for fiction and documentaries and most people seem to have a clear notion of what it is like in prison, ranging from the idea of the prison cell as a cosy nook with fast internet access to that of a dungeon with a hard bed and a diet of bread and water. But what is prison really like? Do prisoners have the same rights as everyone else? What are the similarities and differences between prisons in different European countries?

This book answers all of these questions, whilst also presenting cutting-edge research on the living conditions of long-term prisoners in Europe and considering whether these conditions meet international human rights standards. Bringing together leading experts in the field, with comprehensive coverage of the issues in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Spain and Sweden, this book offers the first comparative study on the subject.

Whereas past research in this area has concentrated on the Anglo-American experience, this book offers a truly comparative European approach and pays due attention to the differences in prison systems between the post-Soviet countries and continental Europe. This book will be key reading for academics and students of criminology, criminal justice and penology and will also be of interest to students and practitioners of law.